Clara
Hill Farmstead Brewery

ClaraClara
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From:
Hill Farmstead Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Grisette
Ranked #3
ABV:
4%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,364
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 7.95%
Reviews:
145
Ratings:
830
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 14, 2024
Added:
Aug 09, 2011
Wants:
  110
Gots:
  110
Clara (1906-1969) was our grandfather’s sister; Hill Farmstead Brewery rests upon the land that was once home to her and her 13 siblings. In her honor, this Grisette is crafted from American malted barley, Vermont Organic Wheat, European and American hops, our distinctive farmhouse yeast and water from our well. Unfiltered and naturally carbonated, this is the ale that I dream to have shared with Clara.

Pale Malt, Organic Vermont Wheat, American and European Hops, Ale Yeast, and our Well Water
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by FosterJM:
Photo of FosterJM
Reviewed by FosterJM from California

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
1734th Review on BA
Bottle champagne flute
750ml

Shared with my coworker Antti

App- A nice and orangey golden color with some yellows mixed into it. A bit shimmery and buttery looking. The head on this was nice and puffy and then fell to some really great cling and sticky lace.

Smell- This was very similar to southern stars Walloon. Where this seemed like a saison at first but turned a bit. Lighter, more earthy and grainy from the wheat and a bit spicy like a small rye but unique in that sense.

Taste- I enjoyed this little beer. Drank bigger than the 4% would lead on. A bit small on certain aspects of flavors but with that spicy pseudo rye tinge, and with a bit of the wheats coming in it was a nice balance and duality of flavors. A little of a saison peppery note.

Mouth- Even for a small AbV this had a nice medium wet body behind it with a good medium carbonation. Dry, earthy, grassy and balanced.

Drink- Leave it to Shaun Hill to take an obscure small ABV beer and make it damn good, love HF stuff.
Feb 15, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.41 by AlpacaAlpaca from New York

Feb 14, 2024
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Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Brewed in 2022.

This one was a gusher when I opened it. Once I quickly dealt with that cleanup, the pour revealed a fizzy, dirty orange beer with plenty of short-lived head that receded to a spotty cap. Aroma is a general earthy, oak funk. Overall, nothing jumping out at me in the look or smell....let's see what it tastes like.

The answer to that is a light, easily drinkable beer with nice notes from the yeast, some light earthy funk and just enough spice to add an extra dimension. Like many Hill Farmstead beers (in particular anything in their Saison / Farmhouse range), it's super tasty at a reasonable ABV and goes down very easily.

Overall, very nice beer.
Dec 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.71 by not2quick from Missouri

Nov 19, 2023
Photo of brewandbbq
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

4.3/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle dated 2023.

Pours clear yellow with a half-inch head of white. Minimal retention or lacing. Mineral-rubbed pineapple skins in the nose. Light bodied with a crisp mouthfeel. Light citrus on the palate with minimal malt or bitterness. Finishes dry with light funk.
Oct 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by alexsergio from New York

Oct 08, 2023
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Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts

4.34/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Probably the most refreshing offering from Hill Farmstead. Lightly tart, lightly hoppy, lightly malty, lightly oaky. A perfect balance with a robust effervescence. Excellent pairing with almost any dinner.

87/100
Aug 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Jun 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by mmmbeerNY from New York

Feb 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by benjaminsa from Vermont

Feb 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Ajlvt from Washington

Aug 10, 2022
 
Rated: 4.03 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Jun 29, 2022
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Reviewed by SierraNevallagash from Maine

4.57/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A massive thank you to WoolEnthusiast for this bottle. Thank you so much.

750ml bottle - dated 8/5/2020 - poured into a classic tulip at around 45°F.

Pours a beautiful deep amber yellow - brilliantly clear, and topped with a thick dense cap of whote foam with excellent retention. There's a central stream of bubbles that continuously feeds the head, as some lacing begins to form. Very pretty.

Nose: Despite the low ABV, there is a remarkably bold, deep character to this one. A sweetness is immediately apparent, with some dusty grains, hay, grass, and musty old oak. A bright fruity contrast lends notes of pear, apple, and some soft lemon, with some delicate floral notes peeking through, and a whisper of herbal character. A pleasing spice character emerges, with some coriander seed, white pepper, allspice, and clove, and eventually, the deep, complex, mature oaky and wild notes emerge, with petrichor, dead leaves, wet soil, farmhouse must, and delightful Hill magic. Truly stunning.

Palate: Clara Puncheon greets the palate with this beautiful, harmonious accord of apple, pear, lemon, white grape skin, and gooseberry, backed by a semi-sweet grainy backdrop, like table crackers. That subtle spice element from the aroma quickly appears, with lovely coriander seed, and just a hint of allspice and clove, lending a very Belgian-like phenol profile. Dusty, rustic old hay, dry grass, damp musty oak, fern, mineralic well water, and earthy, damp, musty complexity that just reminds me if Vermont itself. Terroir, perhaps. The acidity here is remarkably gentle. Very much leaving into the old world Belgian saison level of subtle tartness, which just allows everything to shine. The finish brings a touch of pithy grapefruit, opening into a slight herbal hop note with just a kiss of leafy resin and spice, while the fruity notes and juicy tartness fade away, revealing a bit more oak and musty earthen tones, concluding with a friendly bitter snap.

Mouthfeel/Body: In typical Hill saison fashion, the body here is impeccable. Soft, fluffy, and airy - ultra crisp and light, but enough plushness and presence behind it. Unbelievably quenching, but there's enough there to really savour. Effervescence is brilliant - soft and lively, accented by that well water minerality that gently scrubs the palate. Just enough pith and tannins to clean it all up and beg you for the next sip. Masterful.

I've yet to have a dud from Hill Farmstead. Shaun is on another level, and these raisins truly posses a magical quality. This, however, is in that upper echelon of truly remarkable saisons, really approaching that level of perfection. It's flawless. Without flaw. This is the definition of Hill Farmstead, and few ales can match this level of enjoyment. A masterpiece.
May 21, 2021
Photo of Siriusfisherman
Reviewed by Siriusfisherman from New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Clear golden with a tall head that dissipates quickly and leaves good lacing. The aroma is heavy on tart fruit like honeycrisp apple and lemon, while there is some grape and mild spicy hops and phenolics as well as a crackery bread note. The taste follows suit with tart apple, lemon, grape skin, and some tannic woodiness. Sourdough bread, herbal hops, and some slightly spicy yeast round things out. The body is light and crisp without being watery, very refreshing. Overall, this is a stellar, light farmhouse ale that I enjoyed immensely and definitely see myself coming back to. This, on a hot summer day with a good sandwich would be hard to top.
Mar 26, 2021
 
Rated: 4.08 by M4CDO from Massachusetts

Dec 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.17 by djcira from Pennsylvania

Nov 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.17 by Montanabeerz from Montana

Nov 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.31 by Rub_This_BBQ from Massachusetts

Dec 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.19 by sd123 from Georgia

Aug 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.75 by Hyptochrons from Massachusetts

Jul 18, 2019
Clara from Hill Farmstead Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 830 ratings